Nominal, Target and Measured Values on a Packaging Spec Sheet: What Is Actually Guaranteed?
Are the sizes and weights on my packaging quote guaranteed?
A: A packaging spec sheet usually mixes three kinds of value: nominal values for materials (such as paperboard grammage or flute type), target values for your order (such as the box size and pack count), and measured values recorded from the approved sample. None of them is a guarantee on its own. What both sides sign on the approved spec and the approved sample is the reference for mass production, and any allowed deviation should be agreed in writing on that document. Zhongshan BOYA Color Printing Co., Ltd. (BOYA Printing), based in Xiaolan, Zhongshan, Guangdong, works to the signed spec and the approved sample on every order.
Key points
Nominal is what the material is sold as, for example a board grade or gsm from the mill. Real sheets usually vary a little around it.
Target is what you want this order to be: the box size, the dimension basis, the print colors and the pack count.
Measured is what was actually found on the sample, written down and signed.
Agree the deviation in writing. Do not assume a figure; put the allowed range on the spec or PO.
MOQ: MOQ from 1,000 pcs, depending on product and process.
Reply time: We reply to inquiries within 24 hours.
What do nominal, target and measured mean?
The three words describe where a number comes from, not how exact it is. Mixing them up is a frequent reason why a buyer and a factory read the same spec sheet differently.
Value type | Example field | Who sets it | Where it is confirmed |
Nominal | Board grade and gsm, flute type, paper or film type | The material supplier's catalog, chosen by buyer and factory together | The quote and the spec sheet, named as nominal |
Target | Box dimensions and their basis (inner or outer), print colors, finish, pack count per carton | The buyer, confirmed by the factory as producible | The written spec or PO |
Measured | Actual dimensions, color match and fit found on the sample | The factory measures and records; the buyer checks | The approved sample and its signed record |
Why is the gsm on a quote a nominal value?
Paperboard and corrugated board are sold by grade, and a mill's grammage figure is a nominal value. Individual sheets usually vary a little around it, and humidity can change both weight and thickness. That is normal for paper-based materials. The useful question is not "is it exactly that gsm?" but "is it the agreed grade, and does the finished box perform on the approved sample?"
If a particular property matters to you, such as stiffness for a tall box or burst strength for a shipping carton, say so on the spec, so the board can be chosen for that purpose rather than by gsm alone.
Where do spec sheet disputes usually start?
Material nominal treated as measured. A buyer weighs a sheet, finds it slightly different from the quoted gsm and assumes the wrong board was used, when the grade is in fact correct.
Inner and outer dimensions mixed. One document gives inner dimensions, another gives outer dimensions, and nobody writes which is which. For a box built around a product, the inner dimension is usually what matters.
Pictures instead of specs. A photo or a reference box is sent without written dimensions, board grade or color references, so each side fills the gaps differently.
Color by eye only. Color is approved on screen rather than against a printed reference, so the sample and the bulk are judged against different things.
How should I write the spec on my PO?
List each field and say what kind of value it is. A practical set of fields:
Box style and dimension basis: state whether dimensions are inner or outer, and in mm.
Board grade, nominal: for example the grade or gsm and flute type, marked as nominal.
Print colors and reference: process colors and any spot colors, plus the printed reference or approved proof to match.
Finish: lamination, varnish, foil, embossing or window, as applicable.
Inserts and fit: what the box must hold, and how the fit will be checked on the sample.
Packing count: pieces per inner pack and per shipping carton.
Agreed deviation: write "as agreed in writing" with the ranges both sides accept, rather than leaving it blank.
Reference sample: the approved sample and its signed record, named on the PO.
The sample step itself, and what to check before you sign, is covered in our proof approval checklist before mass production. This article only covers how the values on the spec should be labelled.
Who measures the sample, and what gets recorded?
Usually the factory measures the sample and records the key results: dimensions on the agreed basis, the board used, and how the print compares with the reference. The buyer checks the sample against the target values and signs it if it is acceptable. From then on, mass production is compared with that signed sample and spec, not with a new interpretation of the original drawing.
What if the bulk differs from the approved sample?
Compare the bulk against the signed spec and the approved sample, using the deviation both sides agreed in writing. That is why the written record matters: it turns a disagreement about what was expected into a check against a document. Raise any difference with photos and measurements as soon as the goods are inspected, and agree the next step with your supplier.
What should I send BOYA for a quote?
Send the box style, dimensions with their basis, board preference, artwork, quantities per SKU and destination. BOYA's core products are color boxes, corrugated color cartons and handmade rigid gift boxes; graphic and structural packaging design are also available (see our services and folding cartons pages). Sampling is available. MOQ from 1,000 pcs, depending on product and process. Typical lead times, depending on specifications: color boxes 7–15 days; folding cartons 10–25 days; rigid/gift boxes 15–45 days; tea, wine/liquor and mooncake boxes 15–30 days; displays typically 10–20 days. BOYA is certified to ISO 9001, FSC-C157096 and ONE (formerly GMI), and runs in-house burst and compression testing (in-house, not third-party certification). Call +86 189 2812 5102, email denny@byprintings.com, or use our contact page. We reply to inquiries within 24 hours. Factory visits are welcome by appointment. More on the factory: About BOYA.
FAQ
Is the gsm on the quote exact?
No. The gsm or board grade on a quote is a nominal value from the material supplier, and real sheets usually vary a little around it. What matters is that the agreed grade is used and that the finished box matches the approved sample.
Who measures the sample?
Usually the factory measures the sample and records the key results, such as dimensions on the agreed inner or outer basis and the board used. The buyer checks the sample against the target values and signs it if it is acceptable.
What if the bulk differs from the approved sample?
Compare the bulk against the signed spec and the approved sample, using the deviation both sides agreed in writing. Raise any difference with photos and measurements as soon as the goods are inspected, and agree the next step with your supplier.
Reviewed by Denny Mo. Last updated: 2026-11.
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